A person may say, "I am saved by grace. I believe in Jesus. I teach the
Gospel." Yet, even though they say these things and even teach the Gospel:IF THEY DO NOT LOVE THEIR
BROTHER IN CHRIST, they will perish.IF THEY ARE NOT BORN-AGAIN,
they will perish.IF THEY DO NOT FORGIVE THEIR
BROTHER IN CHRIST, they will perish.IF THEY ARE NOT CONVERTED
AND DO NOT BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN,
they will perish.IF THEY DO NOT DENY THEMSELVES, AND PICK UP THEIR CROSS DAILY,
AND FOLLOW JESUS, they will perish.The list goes on and on.They may appear to have repented,
been baptized, and be serving God; however, IF these and other things are not
also in place, they will perish. True repentance includes all of these.But understand this. If you
are HOT in knowledge and wisdom for Jesus, but are continually around others
that teach and believe a lukewarm message, they may cause you to cool down and
compromise, rather than you causing them to get hot. It is written, DO NOT BE
MISLED: BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD CHARACTER-1 Cor 15:33 NIV.Remember, Jesus tells this
church age, in Revelation 3:18-21-I COUNSEL THEE TO BUY OF ME GOLD TRIED IN
THE FIRE, THAT THOU MAYEST BE RICH; AND WHITE RAIMENT, THAT THOU MAYEST BE
CLOTHED, AND THAT THE SHAME OF THY NAKEDNESS DO NOT APPEAR; AND ANOINT
THINE EYES WITH EYESALVE, THAT THOU MAYEST SEE.AS MANY AS I LOVE, I REBUKE
AND CHASTEN: BE ZEALOUS THEREFORE, AND REPENT.BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR,
AND KNOCK: IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM,
AND WILL SUP WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME.TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH
WILL I GRANT TO SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE, EVEN AS I ALSO OVERCAME, AND AM SET
DOWN WITH MY FATHER IN HIS THRONE. If the world overcomes you, you lose.Are you busy wiping off the
eyesalve, rather than humbling yourself in a childlike manner and anointing
your eyes with eyesalve that you may see?Consider the following message
carefully.

2-FEW
CAN CORRECTLY DISCERN

The unsaved often look like they are saved. Very few people can discern most
of them.Jesus tells us, Lk 11:44-WOE
UNTO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YE ARE AS GRAVES WHICH APPEAR
NOT, AND THE MEN THAT WALK OVER THEM ARE NOT AWARE OF THEM. Here ministers of
the Word are illustrated. They are blind leaders of the blind. They are called
"graves." They are leading people to hell. Yet, Jesus tells us, they
are as graves which APPEAR NOT. They do not appear to be as graves. They do
not appear to be deceivers. They do not appear to be leading people to eternal
death. Jesus also tells us that men are not aware of them. Men do not understand
these teachers are false ministers. Men do not understand these blind leaders
are sending people to hell. These deceivers are so skillful, that they appear
to be true. They appear to be real. They appear to be ministers of righteousness.
It may be said, they appear to be true followers of Jesus.Some of these teachers are
on the radio and can be heard on short-wave around the world. Some are famous
evangelists that hold crusades and have altar calls. Some are college professors,
teaching in Bible universities. Some are people you would never expect.Paul tells of these, in 2 Cor
11:13-15-FOR SUCH ARE FALSE APOSTLES, DECEITFUL WORKERS, TRANSFORMING
THEMSELVES INTO THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST.AND NO MARVEL;
FOR SATAN HIMSELF IS TRANSFORMED INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT.THEREFORE IT IS NO GREAT
THINGIF HIS MINISTERS ALSO BE TRANSFORMED AS THE MINISTERS
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; WHOSE END SHALL BE ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS. It may be
put this wayóit is no great thing if Satanís ministers look like they are the
ministers of righteousness. They often look like they are ministers of Jesus,
but they are really wolves in sheepís clothing.Some of Satanís ministers call
themselves APOSTLES of Christ. Some call themselves prophets. Some are ministers,
teachers, preachers, and Bible school teachers. They appear to be true MINISTERS
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Again, most people are unable to discern or understand that
they are really ministers of Satan. Many are fully persuaded they are followers
of Jesus and follow them to "hell."The Word of God clearly shows
that it is extremely difficult to tell the false ministers, who say they follow
Christ, from the real ones. In some cases, it seems nearly impossible.To the best of my memory and
understanding, not long ago, there was a very famous evangelist in the United
States. He had a great gift of laying hands on people, and tremendous miracle
healings would take place. He could tell people all about themselves and reveal
things about someone that no one could know. He could even tell who would sit
in certain seats at a crusade, before it ever happened. He had many followers.
He could do many miracles. He appeared to be leading many to Jesus. His preaching
seemed anointed, yet it was discovered that he was a drunkard and an adulterer.
He might have a crusade and then afterwards, go to a hotel to be with another
woman. He became an instrument of the devil to tempt another very well-known
minister to commit adultery.He was no longer walking with
the Lord, yet he appeared to be saved. He was famous. He had been on television.
Huge numbers of people would turn out for his evangelistic crusades, yet he
was a grave which appeared not. Men were not aware that he had become a blind
leader of the blind. People did not even consider that he was a deceitful worker.
Multitudes did not even have a thought that this man was a minister of Satan,
who was transformed as a minister of righteousness. Jesus warned that there
was a time coming when there would arise those that would show great signs and
wonders which could deceive even the elect, if it were possible-ref Mt 24:24.The unsaved often look like
they are saved. Very few people can discern them.The Scriptures give us many
examples of such people. They look and act as if they are truly saved. They
look and act like they are followers of Jesus. Understand, these false ministers
are positive they are of God. They are positive they are saved. Even Jesus
Himself could not cause them to believe they were not saved. Often, Jesus would
confront such blind teachers of the Law. He would tell them they were not of
His Father; they were not of God. They were of the wicked one; their father
was the devil; they would die in their sins, yet they did not believe Him and
did not repent.

3-SCRIPTURES
SHOWING HOW SOME UNSAVED LOOK LIKE THEY ARE SAVED: THEY DO THE SAME THINGS AS THOSE THAT
ARE

The following is a list
of examples from the Scriptures of people that were unsaved, yet appeared to
be:

Mt 15:8-they draw near
to Me (to Jesus) with their mouth; they honor Jesus with their lips

Mt 15:9-they worship
Jesus, but they are not saved

Lk 11:39-on the outside
they look righteous and holy

Lk 11:42-they tithe
on everything

Lk 11:43-they sit in
important places; people greet them

Lk 11:44-they do not
appear to be unsaved;
men are not aware that they are unsaved;
men come to them;
they appear to be something they are not

Lk 11:45-they call Jesus,
"Master";
they believe they are saved

Lk 11:46-they have positions
of authority;
men obey them

Lk 11:47-they build
the graves of the prophets

Lk 11:52-they have a
form of Bible knowledge, yet are not saved

Ro 10:2-they have zeal
for God

Lk 13:24-they seek to
enter heaven

Lk 13:25-they knock
at Godís door;
they pray and call upon the name of the Lord (Mt 7:21)

Lk 13:26-they take communion;
He (Jesus) taught in their streets

Mt 7:21-they say to
Jesus, "Lord, Lord"

Mt 7:22-they prophesy
in the name of Jesus;
they cast out devils in the name of Jesus;
they do many wonderful works in the name of Jesus, yet perish

Lk 18:9-they trusted
in themselves that they were righteous

Lk 18:11-they pray long
prayers (Lk 20:47);
they give thanks to God;
outwardly, they appear to be sinless

Lk 18:12-they fast twice
a week;
they give tithes of all they possess

Lk 20:46-they walk in
long robes;
people greet them in the market places;
they have the highest seats in the synagogues;
they sit in the chief rooms at the feasts;
some are writers (or scribes) of the Bible, yet not saved

Mt 23:2-they are religious
leaders;
they sit in Mosesí seat

Mt 23:3-they have authority
to command people what to do

Mt 23:5-they look holy;
they do works that look good;
they dress beautifully

Mt 23:7-they love to
be called "rabbi" (or may love to be called "the treasurer,
the secretary, or the preacher" of this church, or of many churches)

2 Cor 5:12-they glory
in appearance

Mt 23:7-10-people consider
them to be Godís servants

Mt 23:8-10-people call
them, "master, father, rabbi"

Mt 23:15-they travel
long distances to save a person

Mt 23:15-they save souls

Mt 23:24-they are careful
to judge the smallest things, while overlooking the weightier matters

Mt 23:25-they make sure
they appear holy

Mt 23:26,27-they outwardly
appear clean and pure;
they appear to be beautiful

Mt 23:29-they decorate
the tombs of the prophets

Mt 23:30-they declare
themselves righteous, yet are not saved

Acts 10:2-they fear
God

Acts 10:1-8,25-they
have a humble attitude

Acts 10:2-they give
much alms;
they prayed to God always

Rev 2:2-these say they
are apostles

Acts 16:14-they worship
God (Mt 15:9)

Acts 16:17-they direct
people to hear Godís servants

2 Cor 11:13-they are
apostles, but false;
they are workers, but deceitful;
they transform themselves (their own way) into the apostles of Christ, as
His ministers

2 Cor 11:15-they are
transformed as the ministers of righteousness

Titus 1:16-they profess
that they know God

1 Jn 2:4-they say, "I
know Him"

1 Jn 2:9-they say they
are in the light, yet are not saved

In
view of these Scriptures, how then can we possibly discern some of these? How
can we determine they are not saved, when even the Bible shows it is nearly
impossible to discern some of them? Even some of these unsaved peopleís fruits
appear to be good from man's perspectiveóbut God knows their heart.

4-MORE
EXAMPLES FROM THE SCRIPTURES OF THOSE THAT APPEAR TO BE SAVED, BUT ARE NOT:

Ro
2:17-23-they boast of God
they rely on the Law (or the Bible)
they know His will
they are instructed out of the Law
they are confident they are a guide of the blind
they are confident they are an instructor or
teacher
they boast of the Law

Isa
1:11-15-they offer sacrifices
they come before God
they bring incense
they keep the Sabbath and new moons
they call solemn meetings
they call assemblies
they spread forth their hands
they make many prayers

Isa
29:13-they draw near to God with their mouth
they honor God with their lips
their fear toward God is taught by the precept
of men

Isa
58:2,3; 65:5; 66:5-they seek God daily
they delight to know Godís ways, as one that
did righteousness
they ask ordinances of justice
they delight in approaching to God
they fast
they afflict their soul
they say they are holy
they say, "let the Lord be glorified";
yet are not saved

Isa
48:1,2-they swear by the name of the Lord
they make mention of God
they call themselves of the holy city
they stay themselves upon God

Ezek
33:31-they come unto God
they sit before God as His people
they hear Godís Word
they show much love with their mouth

Jere
12:1,2-they prosper
they are happy
they take root
they grow and bring forth fruit
Thou art near in their mouth

Jere
37:3-they ask Godís people to pray for them (Ac 8:24)

Mic
3:11-they lean upon the Lord
they say, "is not the Lord among us?"
they say, "none evil can come upon us"

Jn
8:41-they say, "God is our Father"

Jn
8:4-they call Jesus, "Master"

Jn
8:5-they can quote Godís Word (showing some of them study Godís Word diligently)
they are experts in the Law (or in Godís Word)

5-THE
ONE WAY (BY GODíS WORD AND GODíS SPIRIT)
TO DISCERN WHO IS SAVEDAND
WHO IS NOT

Again, in view of these Scriptures, how can we possibly discern some of these?
How can we tell they are not saved, when even the Bible shows it is nearly impossible
to discern some of them? Even some of these unsaved peopleís fruits appear to
be good from man's perspectiveóbut God knows their heart.There is just one key thing
that clearly reveals that they are not walking with God. This one key thing
is, they would not receive correction from Godís Word, as a little child, AND
REPENT. This is the one way that a person which has a good knowledge of
the Scriptures, by Godís mercy and Godís Spirit, can discern who is saved and
who is not.We may be able to tell that
some people (who appear to be righteous) are not saved, because
they are not walking by faith. They make excuses, when the journey
gets difficult. This may be a determining factor in recognizing some but not
others.We can recognize those that
appear to be righteous, but are not saved, by their fruits. Jesus
said, "WHEREFORE BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM"-Mt 7:20. Their
fruits can include both their attitude and their works. However, in this Laodicean
church age, there are few spiritual Christians, who by reason of use, have their
senses exercised to discern both good and evil (ref Heb 5:14).We can tell that some
people who appear to be righteous are not saved, by their lack
of thirst or hunger for Godís Word. If a person is not hungry for the
milk of Godís Word that he may grow, then something is wrong. However, many
unsaved also hunger to study Godís Word, yet they are not saved, such as the
scribes and Pharisees. Remember, John the Baptistís words, THE FRIEND OF THE
BRIDEGROOM (Jesus), WHICH STANDETH AND HEARETH HIM, REJOICETH GREATLY BECAUSE
OF THE BRIDEGROOMíS VOICE (or the voice and words of Jesus)?-Jn 3 A friend of
Jesus should rejoice, as the words of God come forth. A friend of Jesus should
greatly crave Godís Word, so he can grow. He should want to study and meditate
in Godís Word. Godís Word should excite him and bring him joy. A lack of enthusiasm
to learn more of Jesus is a very bad indication, as we can see from Godís Word.We can tell that some people
who appear to be righteous are not saved, because of their lack of hunger
and thirst for righteousness. Again, this applies to some, but not to
all.Many wrongly believe they are
saved, because of emotions, false teachings, being told they are saved by the
blind or lukewarm; because of traditions; because they go to a certain church;
or many other reasons. It is Godís Word that will judge us.Again, the one key thing
that can reveal a person is not walking with God is, they will not receive
correction from Godís Word, as a little child, and repent. They may
disagree with the correction, or make excuses, or believe it is wrong; even
when it is clearly right. They may justify themselves. They may be sure they
are right and the correction does not fit their situation. They might say, "You
do not understand my situation." This is a much used saying among deceived
people, which Satan puts in their thoughts. The darkness they are in makes it
difficult (perhaps, impossible) for them to see the truth. They may say, over
and over, they want correction; however, when correction comes in a certain
area, they cannot receive it as truth and repent.They may pray. They may preach
the Gospel. They may show much love. They may help the poor. They may praise
and worship God. They may sing to God. They may do many great miracles in the
name of Jesus. They may fast and give tithes and offerings. They may cast out
devils. They may do everything in this huge list of Scriptures, but they will
still perish.The one thing (or common
denominator) among all who perish is, they would not humble themselves and
receive correction from Jesus as He gave them the Word.They
would not (or could not) humble themselves, as a little child before their Father
and repent of certain things.

MEEKNESS
HUMBLENESS,
CHILDLIKENESS TO CORRECTION FROM GOD'S WORD (key sign of walking with God)
AND HOW MUCH YOU WANT AND OBEY CORRECTION,
BROKENNESS
GODLY SORROW,
LOVE FOR YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST WHEN HE CORRECTS YOU IN TRUTH,
FRUITS